The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-20
BOY ToILERs WHO RISE.
Boys With Homes and without Homes
How Bright Boys Succeed.
New York Stsrl

New York Star.
When the business men OF New York
made their Saturday afternoon parades up
Broadway during the last Presidential cam
paign, the demonstrations were rightfully
classed among the most notable in the his
tory OF the city. To see 40. 900 men march
ing in solid column for two or three hours
in continuous procession several miles In
length was indeed a remarkable spectacle.
Yet the working boys of New York could
equal it were they assembled for that pur-
pose. The last census placed the popula-
ton OF New York at /. 100000, and statis-
clans tell US that fully 100000 of the num-
Der are children. By further subdivision
we reach the starting fact that the number
OF New York boys who earn their own fiv-
ing, or contribute to ii. is fully 40 900,
quite an sTmy in itself. There is no exag-
geration in these figures.
These working boys may be divided into
two ciasses-those with homes and those
without. The first comprise about SO 00O
for there are fully 1000 who, having no
parents or being driven from home by cru
city or neglect or bad conduct, have no
abiding place except the lodging houses
tablished for their benefit or such holes
and corners as they may find. The boy
with a home has an immense advantage
over his homeless brother, for in the event
of his being thrown out of emplo vment he
can fall back upou his parents or other
relatives for food and shelter until be hn.'s
another place; yet the homeless class rnrn
out larger percentage OF smart ana 10
dUstrious men than the more favored class
The life of a working boy usually begins
between the ages of twelve and fourteen,
though the street bows often begin at Al
earlier age. The problem of work be 7g
presented to him, he usually seeks en-
ployment in an Office. Like the drift
wood in turbulent river the boy is the
rroo M accident for fhroo or fonr u
start out together and by the merest chance
find their paths diverging without any
effort on their part.
A well. known stock broker once told
the writer that he and boy neighbor left
school at the same time to begin the real
struggle of life. 1--WE came down town."
said he, ION a horse car to the City Hall and
looked for an opening. AS my companion
was the younger we had agreed that he
should make the first effort. Passing down
Nassau street, we noticed placard in
stationery store window announcing the
want OF q boy. Tom went in
only TO find that another boy
had just secured the position.
AS he turned, with disappointed face, 10
| leave the store customer asked him a few
| questions and engaged him on condition
that his references proved satisfactory.
The gentleman was lawyer, with an office
near by, and as they came out L learned
| how fortunate Tom had been. L suppose
there was bit of envy in my face for the
lawyer asked if | was also looking
for employment, and being answered
in the affirmative he told me
| of stock-broker who wanted
bright, active boy. Well, Tom and l both
| got places that day. He went on his line.
| | on mine, and in time he studied Law, was
admitted to the bar and became leading
| politician, finally going to Congress. L re-
manned in the street, learned the mysteries
| of puts and calls and all the rest of the
ways OF Wall street, and as you see am now
broker myself and this morning engaged
another Office boy, his predecessor having
risen to the dignity of clerk, as did once
/ myself"
This is the history of many man who
is now prosperous and respected.
OF course a great deal depends upon the
| character of the boy whether he succeeds
or not. If be is intelligent, active, good
tempered and really industrious, that boys
| future is assured, for, young as he is, his
employer soon learns that he may be
trusted. and as he grows older he is pro-
NOTED or a better opening is found for hin
boy once walked into the Office of John
Roach and asked for employment. The
famous ship builder, though once poor
boy himself, was so busy with some i'm
portant estimates that he gave the appli-
|
The boy had met with several similar an
sweTs that day, yet he was not discouraged.
On the walls OF the Office were hang draw
ings of ships and steamers, and almost on
a level with his own head was the sectional
plan of an ocean steamer. Bov-like, he
examined these drawings with interest,
and there happening to be piece OF paper
On the table, he fell TO )pying the sec
tional drawing. While thus employed, Mr..
Roach, supposing himself to be alone, be-
gan calculating aloud.
LET me see," said he; "that makes a
total of eighty.six tons of steel; now four
times eighty-six is"
Three hundred and torty-four," said the
boy, imagining himself in school for the
moment.
$50 it is" replied Mr.. Roach, looking at
the boy in surprise, for be had forgotten
all about him. "Who are you?"
I'm the boy who asked youifyou didn't
want one"
"Ab, yes; but didn't say no?"
Yes, sir"
What have you been doing there?" de-
manded the ship-builder, seeing that the
boy had defsced the back of valuable
drawing, though the little fellow had 10
idea the sheet of paper had anything on
the under side
81 was copying that drawing, sir; was it
any harmY'
| MI. hOdCu, 'hCdA SCOj
| looked at the paper and saw that the boy
was a good draugbtsman for his age. This
and his fami iarity with the multiplica-
ton table induced the ship-builder to make
further inquiries, which finally led 10 the
boy being given place. He was sent to the
engineers room, where his talent soon de-
veloped, and by the time he reached man
hood young "344," as Mr.. Roach humor-
ously called him, became q thorough en-
gineer, and is now famous naval designer.
An ofice-boy in the employ of a maker
of models for inventors once sat by the
stove and listened to customer describe a
machine he wished made. The machinist
examined the drawings and saw defect
which would defeat the end in view. Be
ing an honest man, he called attention to
the fact, and suggested further study. The
inventor laid down his plans in disgust
! and remarking that he would call for them
. went away. Being idle for the moment
the boy took the drawings and examined
them. When the inventor came back the
, boy was alone.
az wonder how can get over the dim
| culty?" said the man to himself, as h'
glanced over the plans before putting then
, in his pocket. 'The principle is correct l
: 1 can only adopt it."
That's easy enough, sir, said the boy
"EhY
"All you have to do is to lengthen thu
arm of your crank and so increase you